Wrench adapter



Aug. 6, 1940. e. c. WHITNEY WRENCH ADAPTER Filed D sc. 1, 1939 INVENTORGI'Ibe/T C Wh/Mg TTORNEYS iatented Aug. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE WRENCH ADAPTER Gilbert 0. Whitney, New York, N. Y. ApplicationDecember 1, 1939, Serial No. 307,021

5 Claims.

This invention relates to adapters for wrenches and is primarily ofadvantage for turning members such, for example, as nuts or bolts solocated that the space within which the wrench may be turned is smallwith the result that the wrench has a limited angle of swing.

One object of the invention is to provide for a to be turned by an angleof swing of the wrench and the wrench reengaged for its next turningmovement within that angle of swing, which angle of swing is less thanthe angle subtended by the individual operative faces of the adapter.

A second object of the invention is to provide two operative drivingsections or heads on the adapter separated by a pilot or race section bywhich latter means the wrench may be guided between the two operativesections in its change of position both radially and longitudinally inmoving from one operative section or head to the other.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent as this descriptionproceeds.

In ordinary practice adapters are employed in connection with socketswhich latter at their bottoms fit over the members to be turned. Thesesockets at their bottoms are provided with various interior shapes andsizes to fit the members to be turned. At the top the sockets are formedwith a suitable opening commonly of square or hexagonal cross-sectioninto which the adapters of like cross-section at the bottom are insertedand removably attached. The adapter has its top flormed for engagementwith the wrench block or head and is commonlyofsquare or hexagonalcross-section. It is convenient to use sockets of this character withthe adapter of this invention, although, as is obvious, if desiredtheadapter may be formed and shaped at the bottom to engage directly withthe member to be turned.

Box wrenches are most commonly employed with adapters although anysuitable type of wrench with an open block maybe used. Reference beinghad more particularly to box wrenches, the terminology commonly employedin the trade for defining the number of operative faces is by referenceto the boundary lines between adja-' cent faces which lie in what may betermed the outer circumferential line of the block interior; These arereferred to as points. Reference being had, for example, to the doublehexagonal box wrench specifically illustrated herein and later to bemore fully described, there are twentyfour vertical faces, eachfacebe'ing bouhded and omitted, the wrench defined by two verticallines, one of which lies in what I have termed the outer circumferenceof the'block' interior and. the other in what may be termedthe innercircumference thereof. This wrench, defined by the boundary lines whichlie 5 in the said outer circumference, thereof, is a twelve point boxwrench. Again, for example,

in a box wrench with a single hexagonal block interior the verticalboundary lines of the respective faces all he in the samecircumferential 10 line of the block interior. Such a wrench is a sixpoint box wrench. It is preferred, though not essential, to employ a boxwrench with the adapter of this invention and that wrench will bespecified by its points. 15 In the drawing hereof I have illustrated twoforms of adapters, both for use in connection with suitable sockets.Both forms 1 have hexagonal driving sections or heads. One formisparticularly adapted for main connection with a double 20 hexagonaltwelve point box wrench which is illustrated, and the other form withasingle hexagonal six'point box wrench which is not specifically shown.The two forms shown, it should be understood, are selected forillustrative purposes 25 and should not at all be considered aslimitative upon the scope of my invention.

In the drawing, Figure l is an elevation of the adapter mounted in asocket and having its cooperating wrench partly lowered toward full 30operative position on the upper driving section or head, the position ofthe wrench on the pilot or race section being indicated in broken lines,the wrench being broken away in its handle;

Fig. 2 is a top plan on an enlarged scale of the 5 wrench and adapter ofFig. 1 with the socket being shown as engaging the upper driving sectionor head of the adapter;

Fig. 3 is a top plan on the scale of Fig. 2 of the wrench and adapterof' Fig. 1 with the lower 40 driving section or head of the adapter andthe socket omitted, the wrench being shown as engaging the upper drivingsection or head of the adapter;

Fig. 4 is a top plan on the scale of Fig. 2 of the 45 wrench and adapterof Fig. l, the adapter being shown in cross-section through the pilot orrace section and the socket being omitted, the wrench being shown inposition upon the pilot or race section;

Fig. 5 is a top plan on the scale of Fig. 2 of the wrench and adapter ofFig.1, the adapter being shown in cross-section through the pilot orrace section and thesocket omitted as in Fig. 4, the 5 Assuming thatwrench being shown in engagement with the lower driving section or headof the adapter;

Fig. 6 is. a top plan on the scale of Fig. 2 of the wrench and adapterof Fig. 1, the socket being omitted, the wrench being shown in engagement with the lower driving section or head of the adapter;

Fig. '7 is an elevation and Fig. 8 is an elevation of the second form ofthe adapter heretofore referred to.

Because of the multiplicity of lines required for a complete showing andthe confusion likely to result therefrom, in Figs. 2, 3, 5, and 6 theoperative faces of the wrench block or head which are in engagement withthe faces of the upper and lower driving sections: 01' heads of theadapter, together with the said faces of the adapter are illustrated bysingle lines. The double hexagonal outline of the block or head interiorof the wrench is, however, illustrated in full lines in Fig. 4.

Reference being had first to the adapter illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7,inclusive, the adapter I!) has an upper hexagonal driving section orhead H, a cylindrical pilot or race section I 2, and a lower hexagonaldriving section or head I 3, the latter being extended downwardly foroperative engagement with the interior of a socket M, where it isremovably held by a spring pressed ball l5, stops not shown beingprovided in conventional fashion for determining the prop-er verticalposition of the adapter in the socket whereby the lower driving sectionor head I3 extends above the socket a distance substantially equal tothe lengthwise dimension of the upper driving section or head H.

The hexagonal driving sections or heads II and I3, respectively, are ofsubstantially identical cross-section. The diameter of the cylindricalpilot or race section i2 is substantially equal to the cross-sectionaldistance between the oppositely disposed working faces of the drivingsections or heads, and its lengthwise dimension is substantially equalto that of the upper driving section or head I l. The upper drivingsection or head ll, the pilot or race section l2 and the lower drivingsection or head [3 are in line with each other, but the working faces ofthe upper driving section or head are radially displaced at a 15 anglefrom the corresponding working faces of the lower driving section orhead.

The wrench illustrated for use with the adapter I 0 is a double hexagon,twelve point box wrench 20 having an offset handle 2| and a block orhead 22.

The head 25 broken away, shown in the lower part of the socket I4 isillustrative of the member to be turned by the combined wrench, adapterand socket shown.

The operation of the wrench 20, adapter l0, and socket M of Fig. 1 is asfollows:

The socket M with the adapter ID in position therein is placed over thehead 25 of the member to be turned. The wrench 20 is then placed inoperative position on the upper driving section or head H as shown, forexample, in Fig. 2. it is desired to rotate the head 25 in clockwisedirection the wrench handle is moved from the position of Fig. 2 throughan arc of 15 to the position of Fig. 3. From the position of Fig. 3 thewrench is lowered out of engagement with the upper driving section orhead H onto the pilot or race section l2 as of the adapter of Fig. 1;

shown in Fig. 4. From the position of Fig. 4 the wrench is rotated aboutthe pilot or race section l2 counter-clockwise through an arc of 15 tothe position of Fig. 5. The wrench will then be in position to slidevertically into engagement with the lower driving section or head I 3 towhich it is moved. The wrench then in engagement with the lower drivingsection or head I3 is rotated clockwise through an angle of 15 to theposition of Fig. 6. Through this sequence of operations the'adapter l0,socket I4, and head '25 have been rotated through an angle of 30.

From the position of Fig. 6 with the wrench in engagement with the lowerdriving section or head l3 the wrench is moved upwardly to the pilot orrace section [2 and there rotated counter-clockwise through an angle of15 as shown in Fig. 5 in which position it is moved upwardly intoengagement with the upper driving section or head as illustrated in Fig.2 in readiness for repetition of the sequence of operations of Figs. 2to 6, inclusive, just described.

Reference now being had to the form of adapter illustrated in Fig. 8,that adapter I0 is identical in all respects with the adapter ID of Fig.7 except in the angle by which the working faces on the upper drivingsection or head are radially displaced in respect to the correspondingworking faces on the lower driving section or head. For this reason thereference numerals of the adapter of Fig. 7 with primes are applied tothe corresponding parts of the adapter of Fig. 8, without furtherdescription. The working faces of the upper driving section or head llof Fig. 8 are illustrated as radially displaced at an angle of 30 fromthe corresponding working faces of the lower driving section or head l3.

As indicated in the preamble hereof, a single hexagon six point wrenchis preferably to be employed with the adapter illustrated in Fig. 8.With such a wrench the sequence of operations in rotating the member tobe turned is identical with that above described respecting the adapterof Figs. 1 to 7, except that the angle of swing of the wrench is throughan arc of 30 instead of 15.

To understand the operation of the two forms of adapter illustratedrespectively in Figs. '7 and 8 in respect to current practice, thefollowing should be noted.

With twelve point sockets or double hexagon twelve point box wrenchescommonly employed on hexagonal members to be turned, it is possible tooperate in a minimum angle of swing of 30 only by replacing the socketor box wrench on the member to be turned. Due to this the wear on thecorners of the members to be turned is more than doubled soon causingthem to become upset or sheared. This deformation of the member to beturned tends to be increased by the absence of active face cut away inthe pocket or box wrench of the twelve point type. This wear and tear onthe member to be turned is practically eliminated by the use of theadapter of this invention because the socket is placed on the member tobe turned but once. Such wear and tear is not transferred to the adapterof this invention'because of the pilot or race section interposedbetween the two driving sections or heads all of hardened material.

Where in current practice a single hexagon six point wrench is employedwith a member to be turned having a hexagonal head, regardless of theangle through which the member may be turned the wrench must be turnedthrough an angle of 60, in order to place the wrench in the nextoperating position, as against 30 possible with the adapter of Fig. 8.

Attempts have been made to overcome these difficulties in currentpractice, the most common of which is by embodying a ratchet in thewrench. The wrench, however, must be capable of exerting pressure forturningv the adapter both in clockwise and counter-clockwise direction,and this requires a ratchet which may be locked for is removable and maybe turned the other side up, as it were, when it is desired to exertpressure in the opposite direction from that for which the ratchet isset in the wrench. In addition to these comparatively expensive and poormechanical expedients, the ratchet is bulky and occupies space in manyinstances not available. Applicants invention avoids completely theemployment of a ratchet.

While I have illustrated my invention as embodied in adapters having aneven number of operative faces in its respective driving sections orheads it should be readily understood that this is not essential. Thefaces of the driving sections or heads should be uniform in thecrosssection of the adapter and regularly placed thereon, the samenumber of working faces being employed in the upper and lower drivingsections or heads.

The angle by which the corresponding faces of the upper driving sectionor head are radially displaced in respect to the corresponding workingfaces of the lower driving section or head as herein illustrated, isequal to one-half of the angle subtended by two consecutive points inthe block or head of the wrench to be employed. This provides for auniform angle of swing, which is preferred though not essential. It willbe understood that the said angle of radial displacement will vary inaccordance with the number of working faces on the upper and lowerdriving sections or heads of the adapter and the wrenches to be employedtherewith, preferably in accordance with the limitation just set forth.

While I have illustrated a pilot or race section of cylindrical form itwill be understood that this is not essential to the broad purposes ofthis invention. The form of the pilot or race section should be such asto permit both vertical and radial movement of the block or head of thewrench in its transposition from one driving section or head of theadapter to the other driving section or head thereof, and'to pilot orguide the wrench to its respectively engaged operating position.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding and no undue limitations on the scope of this inventionshould be inferred therefrom.

I claim:

1. The combination of a box wrench, an adapter, and a socket removablyattached to the adapter in non-rotatable relation thereto, the boxwrench being provided with a block or head formed with a plurality ofoppositely disposed working faces for engagement with the adapter; theadapter being formed with an upper drivin section or head and a lowerdriving section or.

head separated by a pilot or race section, the upper driving section orhead, the pilot or race section and the lower driving section or headbeing in line with each other and with the substantially cylindrical andboth directions or a ratchet which;

' adapter; the wrench being socket, the upper driving se-ction or headand the lower driving section or head being of substantially identicalcross-sectionand being each provided withthe same number of oppositelyplaced uniform working faces disposed longitudinally ofthe adapter, thepilot ol' race section being of such length and diameter as topermit theblock or head of the wrench to rotate freely' about the pilot or racesection, the working faces on the'upper driving section or head beingradially displaced at an angle to the corresponding working faces of thelower driving section or head equal to one-half the angle subtended bytwo consecutive points in thewrench block or head. 1

2. The combination of a wrench and an provided with a block or headformed with a plurality of working faces for engagement with theadapter; the adapter being provided at the bottom with means forengaging the member to be turned and being formed with an upper drivingsection or head and a lower driving section or head separated by a pilotor race section, the upper driving section or head, the pilot or racesection and the lower driving section or head being in line with each Iother, the upper driving section or head and the lower driving sectionor head being of substantially identical cross-section and being eachprovided with the same number of uniform working faces disposedlongitudinally of the adapter, the pilot or race section being soconstructed and of such dimensions as to permit the block or head of thewrench to rotate freely thereab-out, the working faces of the upperdriving section or head being radially displaced at an angle to thecorresponding working faces of the'lower driving section or .head equalto one-half the angle subtended by two consecutive points in the wrenchblock or head.

3. A wrench adapter comprising an upper driving section 'or head, alower driving section or head, each for engagement with the block orhead of the wrench, a cylindrical pilot or race section between theupper driving section or head and the lower driving section or headabout which the block or head of the wrench may turn, the upper drivingsection or head, the pilot or race section, and the lower drivingsection or head being in line with each other, the upper driving sectionor head and the, lower driving section or head being of substantiallyidentical cross-section and being each provided with the same number ofregularly placed uniform working faces disposed longitudinally of theadapter, the diameter of the cylindrical pilot or race section beingsubstantially equal to the transverse distance between the regularlydisposed working faces of the driving sections or heads, the workingfaces of the upper driving section or head being radially displaced atan angle to the corresponding working faces of the lower driving sectionor head.

4. A wrench adapter comprising an upper hexagonal driving section orhead, a lower hexagonal driving section or head, each for engagementwith theblock or head of the wrench, the said driving sections or headsbeing of substantially identical cross-section, a cylindrical pilot orrace section between the upper driving section or head and the lowerdriving section or head about which the block or head of the wrench mayturn, the upper driving section or head, the pilot or race section, andthe lower driving section or head being in line with each other,

the diameter of the cylindrical pilot or race section beingsubstantially equal to the distance between the oppositely disposedworking faces of the driving sections or heads, the working faces of theupper driving section or head being radially displaced at a 15 anglefrom the corresponding working faces of the lower driving section orhead.

5 A wrench adapter comprising an upper hexagonal driving section orhead,'a lower hexagonal driving section or head, each for engagementwith the block or head of the wrench, the said driving sections or headsbeing of substantially identical cross-section, a cylindrical pilot orrace section between theupper driving sec- .tion or head and the lowerdriving section or head about which the block or head of the wrench mayturn, the upper driving section or head, the pilot or race section, andthe lower driving section or head being in line with each other, thediameter of the cylindrical pilot or race section being substantiallyequal to the distance between the oppositely disposed working faces ofthe driving sections or heads, the working faces of the upper drivingsection or head being radially displaced at a 30 angle from thecorresponding working faces of the lower driving section or head.

GILBERT C. WHITNEY.

